Metallife Application possibilities for compressive stress and die surface treatments

Summary TL

Benefits

Specs

Applications

Application and Comparison Chart

Die Casting Dies - NEW, USED*, WELDED, POLISHED

ThermaLLife is not, by itself, a reactive application process. In other words, it is not normally applied to USED tooling except when combined with MetaLLife (See TooLLife*). The diffusion process is performed in a vacuum assist environment at specified temperature. The steel must be able to be heated, to at least 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, without losing its final temper properties.

It can be reapplied as long as the history of the tool regarding prior treatments is disclosed. In such cases, the recipe for diffusion is adjusted to prevent too thick of diffusion zone from being applied. This enables processing of tooling that has previously been welded for engineering changes after PPAP.

After the process is performed, there is a diffusion zone, compound layer, and some residual compressive surface strength. The ThermaLLife added benefits make the surface considerably more wear and corrosion resistant.

A relatively new procedure to reduce fillet and radii cracking of die casting dies is now known and practiced by a limited number of informed die casters (introduced in 2008). The procedure involves a diamond polish to these specific areas as opposed to finishing them with a 300-400 stone. ThermaLLife can be effectively applied over such a surface.

Drawing, Forming, Blanking Dies

With the exception of D2, most other cold work steels lend themselves to the ThermaLLife process. D2 steels can be final tempered at 500 or 1100 degrees F. Without knowing which of these was used, there is a risk to processing when the final temper was done at the lower temperature.